An Intern Teacher from Marguerite Vann Elementary School has ended her internship with an unforgettable honor.

Pam Okolo was both surprised and honored to receive the "Intern of the Semester" award from UCA last week. But the biggest surprise for Ms. Okolo came when her mentor teacher, Mrs. Ortega, and her 19 first graders walked in the room to share in her celebration.

"I was a little disappointed that I would not be able to go to her ceremony because our first grade students were going on a field trip that day," said Mrs. Ortega.

Since the field trip was already scheduled to be held at the University of Central Arkansas later that day, Principal Bobby Walker made a call to the bus shop to see if they could pick up Mrs. Ortega and her class a little earlier.

"Everyone was so accommodating and helpful. Because of willing people working together, we were able to create an unforgettable moment for an intern, her classmates, supervisors, first grade students, and a classroom teacher."

​In UCA's 24-year history of giving this award, no class has ever surprised their student teacher like that.